Search | GlossaryCourse Index: CCNA Exploration - Network Fundamentals1 Living in a Network-Centric World1.0 Chapter Introduction1.0.1 Chapter IntroductionPage 1:We now stand at a critical turning point in the use of technology to extend andempower our human network. The globalization of the Internet has succeeded faster than anyone could have imagined. The manner in which social, commercial, politicaland personal interactions occur is rapidly changing to keep up with the evolution of this global network. In the next stage of our development, innovators will use theInternet as a starting point for their efforts - creating new products and servicesspecifically designed to take advantage of the network capabilities. As developers push the limits of what is possible, the capabilities of the interconnected networksthat form the Internet will play an increasing role in the success of these projects.This chapter introduces the platform of data networks upon which our social and business relationships increasingly depend. The material lays the groundwork for exploring the services, technologies, and issues encountered by network professionalsas they design, build, and maintain the modern network.In this chapter, you will learn to:Describe how networks impact our daily lives.Describe the role of data networking in the human network.Identify the key components of any data network.Identify the opportunities and challenges posed by converged networks.Describe the characteristics of network architectures: fault tolerance, scalability,quality of service and security.Install and use IRC clients and a Wiki server.Display Visual Media1.1 Communicating in a Network-Centric World1.1.1 Networks Supporting the Way We LivePage 1:Among all of the essentials for human existence, the need to interact with others
ranks just below our need to sustain life. Communication is almost as important to usas our reliance on air, water, food, and shelter.The methods that we use to share ideas and information are constantly changing andevolving. Whereas the human network was once limited to face-to-faceconversations, media breakthroughs continue to extend the reach of our communications. From the printing press to television, each new development hasimproved and enhanced our communication.As with every advance in communication technology, the creation andinterconnection of robust data networks is having a profound effect.Early data networks were limited to exchanging character-based information betweenconnected computer systems. Current networks have evolved to carry voice, videostreams, text, and graphics between many different types of devices. Previouslyseparate and distinct communication forms have converged onto a common platform.This platform provides access to a wide range of alternative and new communicationmethods that enable people to interact directly with each other almostinstantaneously.The immediate nature of communications over the Internet encourages the formationof global communities. These communities foster social interaction that isindependent of location or time zone.Display Visual MediaPage 2:The Global CommunityTechnology is perhaps the most significant change agent in the world today, as ithelps to create a world in which national borders, geographic distances, and physicallimitations become less relevant, and present ever-diminishing obstacles. Thecreation of online communities for the exchange of ideas and information has the potential to increase productivity opportunities across the globe. As the Internetconnects people and promotes unfettered communication, it presents the platform onwhich to run businesses, to address emergencies, to inform individuals, and tosupport education, science, and government.
Click PLAY to watch how the Internet, and its underlying technology, bringsopportunities to people wherever they live or work.Display Visual MediaPage 3:It is incredible how quickly the Internet became an integral part of our daily routines.The complex interconnection of electronic devices and media that comprise thenetwork is transparent to the millions of users who make it a valued and personal partof their lives.Data networks that were once the transport of information from business to businesshave been repurposed to improve the quality of life for people everywhere. In thecourse of a day, resources available through the Internet can help you:Decide what to wear using online current weather conditions.Find the least congested route to your destination, displaying weather and trafficvideo from webcams.Check your bank balance and pay bills electronically.Receive and send e-mail, or make an Internet phone call, at an Internet cafe over lunch.Obtain health information and nutritional advice from experts all over the world, and post to a forum to share related health or treatment information.Download new recipes and cooking techniques to create a spectacular dinner.Post and share your photographs, home videos, and experiences with friends or withthe world.Many uses of the Internet would have been hard to imagine just a few years ago. Takefor example, one person's experience publishing a home music video:"My goal is to make my own movies. One day, my friend Adi and I made a video as asurprise for her boyfriend's birthday. We recorded ourselves lip-synching to a songand dancing around. Then we decided, why not post it. Well, the reaction has beenhuge. It's had over 9 million views so far, and the movie director Kevin Smith evendid a short spoof of it. I don't know what draws people to the video. Maybe it's thesimplicity of it, or the song. Maybe it's because it's spontaneous and fun, and it makes people feel good. I don't know. But I do know that I can do what I love and share itonline with millions of people around the world. All I need is my computer, digitalcamcorder, and some software. And that's an amazing thing."Display Visual Media
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Living in a Network-Centric World
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